Less is More

This is something I'm learning this week.  Our schedule is usually CRAZY.  I mean out of control crazy.  I thrive on it usually, because it offers the chance to leave the house and do something else.  During the school months we have CC, piano lessons, BSF, soccer and basketball practice and games, church, and the list goes on.  Since my surgery in February you can add physical therapy twice a week to the list as well.  We are always on the move.  All the things we are involved in are good and beneficial to us, but I'm starting to learn that there may be some other things that are more important.

Usually I'm excited to have a full day of stuff.  I try to limit the amount of TV and media we use, so days where we are home ALL DAY usually drag by for me and I find there is only so much you can do at home to entertain yourself and your kids.  Sometimes no amount of paint, crayons, legos, little ponies, and food is enough, especially on a rainy day where your stuck inside the entire day.  And if we're being honest, there are some days where I just mentally want to check out.  Sometimes I just want to curl up with Netflix and forget the pile of dishes and the laundry that has been neglected all week.

The month of May was brutal.  We had 3 family birthdays, 2 family graduations, celebrated our 11th anniversary, 2 weeks of swimming lessons, physical therapy twice a week, end of year celebrations for CC, piano lessons, and the passing of my grandmother.  Like I said, May was brutal.  When June 1 hit I had nothing to do and no where to go.  It was AWESOME!  I still have errands and PT, but most of our crazy is slowing down.  Today has been wonderful.  I've washed the dishes, done 2 loads of laundry, finished some school with the kiddo, and there's still hours left in the day.  I haven't had a day that was both relaxing and productive is such a long time.  Its making me CRAVE more days like this.  I mean I've done everything I needed to get done today and I still have time for that Netflix break.

I guess I'm realizing how refreshing home can be.  Maybe I'm finding peace in the chaos.  Life is still moving at a crazy pace, but with a little more home time I'm finding that all the other glitter of life doesn't really mean so much.  My kids don't have to be the best, my home doesn't have to be the cleanest, my hair and makeup don't even have to get done.  I'm just enjoying the fresh air, the sunshine and the rain, the peace my little corner of the world offers.  This year has been HARD.  While there have been good times, they have been surrounded with sadness.  Perhaps all the loss I've experienced this year has helped me appreciate the small things in life.  A good conversation, an amazing piece of art from my 4 year old, a not so funny joke from my son, the perfect song on the radio, the pride in completing a task, and hug from my husband.  Perhaps these things are the real glitter of life.